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Oursinite

A valid IMA mineral species

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Photos of Oursinite (2)

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Oursinite

Shinkolobwe Mine, Shinkolobwe, Kambove Territory, Haut-Katanga, DR Congo

Oursinite, etc.

Shinkolobwe Mine, Shinkolobwe, Kambove Territory, Haut-Katanga, DR Congo

Oursinite

Shinkolobwe Mine, Shinkolobwe, Kambove Territory, Haut-Katanga, DR Congo

Oursinite, etc.

Shinkolobwe Mine, Shinkolobwe, Kambove Territory, Haut-Katanga, DR Congo

Oursinite

Shinkolobwe Mine, Shinkolobwe, Kambove Territory, Haut-Katanga, DR Congo

Oursinite, etc.

Shinkolobwe Mine, Shinkolobwe, Kambove Territory, Haut-Katanga, DR Congo

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About OursiniteHide

Formula:

Co(UO₂)₂(SiO₃OH)₂ · 6H₂O

All material so far seems to contain minor Mg replacing Co.

Colour:

Pale yellow

Hardness:

3 - 3½

Specific Gravity:

3.674 (Calculated)

Crystal System:

Orthorhombic

Member of:

Sklodowskite Group

Name:

From the french oursin, in allusion to its appearance like a sea urchin

Type Locality:

ⓘ Shinkolobwe Mine, Shinkolobwe, Kambove Territory, Haut-Katanga, DR Congo

This page provides mineralogical data about Oursinite.

Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:

3047

Long-form identifier:

mindat:1:1:3047:8

GUID
(UUID V4):

1bbcde5f-2472-47ad-aade-9ed0fef0def6

IMA Classification of OursiniteHide

IMA status:

Approved

Approval year:

1982

First published:

1983

Type description reference:

Deliens, Michel, Piret, Paul (1983) L'oursinite (Co0,86Mg0,10Ni0,04)O.2UO3. 2SiO2.6H2O, nouveau minéral de Shinkolobwe, Shaba, Zaïre. Bulletin de Minéralogie, 106 (3) 305-308 doi:10.3406/bulmi.1983.7710

Classification of OursiniteHide

Strunz-mindat (2023):

9.AK.10

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
A : Nesosilicates
K : Uranyl neso- and polysilicates

Dana 8th ed.:

53.3.1.7

53 : NESOSILICATES Insular SiO₄ Groups and Other Anions or Complex Cations
3 : Insular SiO₄ Groups and Other Anions of Complex Cations with (UO₂)

Hey's CIM Ref.:

14.16.19

14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
16 : Silicates of U

Mineral SymbolsHide

As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

Symbol	Source	Reference
Osn	IMA–CNMNC	Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43

Physical Properties of OursiniteHide

Transparency:

Transparent

Colour:

Pale yellow

Hardness:

3 - 3½ on Mohs scale

Cleavage:

Distinct/Good
on {hk0}

Density:

3.674 g/cm³ (Calculated)

Optical Data of OursiniteHide

Type:

Biaxial (-)

RI values:

n_α = 1.624 n_β = 1.640 n_γ = 1.650

2V:

Measured: 76° , Calculated: 76°

Max Birefringence:

δ = 0.026

Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.

Surface Relief:

Moderate

Dispersion:

weak

Chemistry of OursiniteHide

Mindat Formula:

Co(UO₂)₂(SiO₃OH)₂ · 6H₂O

All material so far seems to contain minor Mg replacing Co.

Elements listed:

Co, H, O, Si, U - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Common Impurities:

Crystallography of OursiniteHide

Crystal System:

Orthorhombic

Class (H-M):

mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal

Space Group:

Cmca

Cell Parameters:

a = 7.0457(4) Å, b = 17.5445(8) Å, c = 12.7231(2) Å

Ratio:

a:b:c = 0.402 : 1 : 0.725

Unit Cell V:

1,572.74 Å³ (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Morphology:

Radiating aggregates of acicular crystals to 1mm.

Comment:

Cell parameters from Plášil (2018) with R1=2.03%.

Crystal StructureHide

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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure

ID	Species	Reference	Link	Year	Locality	Pressure (GPa)	Temp (K)
0004122	Oursinite	Kabatko K A, Burns P C (2006) A novel arrangement of silicate tetrahedra in the uranyl silicate sheet of oursinite, (Co0.8Mg0.2)[(UO2)(SiO3OH)]2(H2O)6 American Mineralogist 91 333-336		2006		0	293

CIF Raw Data - click here to close

data_global
_chemical_name_mineral 'Oursinite'
loop_
_publ_author_name
'Kabatko K A'
'Burns P C'
_journal_name_full 'American Mineralogist'
_journal_volume 91 
_journal_year 2006
_journal_page_first 333
_journal_page_last 336
_publ_section_title
;
 A novel arrangement of silicate tetrahedra in the uranyl silicate sheet of
 oursinite, (Co0.8Mg0.2)[(UO2)(SiO3OH)]2(H2O)6
;
_database_code_amcsd 0004122
_chemical_formula_sum '(Co.8 Mg.2) U2 Si2 O18 H14'
_cell_length_a 7.0494
_cell_length_b 17.550
_cell_length_c 12.734
_cell_angle_alpha 90
_cell_angle_beta 90
_cell_angle_gamma 90
_cell_volume 1575.412
_exptl_crystal_density_diffrn      3.737
_symmetry_space_group_name_H-M 'C m c a'
loop_
_space_group_symop_operation_xyz
  'x,y,z'
  '1/2+x,1/2+y,z'
  'x,1/2-y,1/2+z'
  '1/2+x,-y,1/2+z'
  '-x,1/2+y,1/2-z'
  '1/2-x,+y,1/2-z'
  '-x,y,z'
  '1/2-x,1/2+y,z'
  'x,-y,-z'
  '1/2+x,1/2-y,-z'
  'x,1/2+y,1/2-z'
  '1/2+x,+y,1/2-z'
  '-x,1/2-y,1/2+z'
  '1/2-x,-y,1/2+z'
  '-x,-y,-z'
  '1/2-x,1/2-y,-z'
loop_
_atom_site_label
_atom_site_fract_x
_atom_site_fract_y
_atom_site_fract_z
_atom_site_occupancy
_atom_site_U_iso_or_equiv
Co   0.00000   0.50000   0.00000   0.80000   0.02180
Mg   0.00000   0.50000   0.00000   0.20000   0.02180
U   0.00000   0.20567   0.18049   1.00000   0.01210
Si   0.00000   0.29910  -0.07160   1.00000   0.01400
O1   0.00000   0.10350   0.16850   1.00000   0.02300
O2   0.00000   0.30820   0.19440   1.00000   0.02200
O3   0.00000   0.22610   0.00600   1.00000   0.01770
O4   0.17560   0.30030  -0.15380   1.00000   0.01880
O-h5   0.00000   0.37790   0.00160   1.00000   0.02200
Ow6   0.20060   0.49790   0.11770   1.00000   0.05000
Ow7   0.50000   0.39980   0.12120   1.00000   0.03600
H1   0.00000   0.38200   0.07600   1.00000   0.05000
H2   0.27500   0.48300   0.06200   1.00000   0.05000
H3   0.23100   0.54900   0.13600   1.00000   0.05000
H4   0.50000   0.36900   0.18300   1.00000   0.05000
H5   0.50000   0.37700   0.05300   1.00000   0.05000
loop_
_atom_site_aniso_label
_atom_site_aniso_U_11
_atom_site_aniso_U_22
_atom_site_aniso_U_33
_atom_site_aniso_U_12
_atom_site_aniso_U_13
_atom_site_aniso_U_23
Co 0.02420 0.01860 0.02250 0.00000 0.00000 -0.00140
Mg 0.02420 0.01860 0.02250 0.00000 0.00000 -0.00140
U 0.00754 0.01770 0.01106 0.00000 0.00000 0.00070
Si 0.01310 0.01980 0.00910 0.00000 0.00000 0.00170
O1 0.02000 0.01500 0.03400 0.00000 0.00000 -0.00100
O2 0.03000 0.02300 0.01400 0.00000 0.00000 -0.00200
O3 0.01900 0.02200 0.01200 0.00000 0.00000 -0.00100
O4 0.00900 0.03500 0.01300 -0.00100 0.00100 0.00300
O-h5 0.03400 0.01700 0.01700 0.00000 0.00000 -0.00300
Ow6 0.05200 0.03600 0.06200 0.00100 -0.02900 -0.01300
Ow7 0.05000 0.02600 0.03100 0.00000 0.00000 0.00200

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:

d-spacing	Intensity
8.73 Å	(100)
7.20 Å	(70)
5.16 Å	(50)
4.55 Å	(35)
4.141 Å	(70)
3.528 Å	(40)
3.267 Å	(30)
2.853 Å	(90)

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):

Paragenetic Mode	Earliest Age (Ga)
Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event	<2.4
47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals]
47f : [Uranyl (U⁶⁺) minerals]

Type Occurrence of OursiniteHide

Type Locality:

ⓘ Shinkolobwe Mine, Shinkolobwe, Kambove Territory, Haut-Katanga, DR Congo

General Appearance of Type Material:

Radial aggregates of pale yellow acicular crystals, with maximum dimensions 1 x 0.02 x 0.02 mm.

Place of Conservation of Type Material:

Royal Museum of Central Africa, Tervuren, Belgium, RGM1321.

Geological Setting of Type Material:

Uranium deposit; brecciated dolomite.

Associated Minerals at Type Locality:

Soddyite

Curite

Reference:

Deliens, M., Piret, P. (1983) L'oursinite (Co0.86Mg0.10Ni0.04)0.2UO3·2SiO2·6H2O, nouveau mineral de Shinkolobwe, Shaba, Zaïre. Bulletin de la Société française de Minéralogie et de Cristallographie: 106: 305-308.

Download:

https://rruff.info/rruff_1.0/uploads/BM106_305.pdf

Synonyms of OursiniteHide

IMA1982-051

Other Language Names for OursiniteHide

German:Oursinit

Spanish:Oursinita

Relationship of Oursinite to other SpeciesHide

Member of:

Sklodowskite Group

Other Members of this group:

Cuprosklodowskite	Cu(UO₂)₂(SiO₃OH)₂ · 6H₂O	Tric. 1 : P1
Sklodowskite	Mg(UO₂)₂(SiO₃OH)₂ · 6H₂O	Mon. 2/m : B2/m

Common AssociatesHide

Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:

1 photo of Oursinite associated with Becquerelite	Ca(UO₂)₆O₄(OH)₆ · 8H₂O
1 photo of Oursinite associated with Heterogenite	Co³⁺O(OH)
1 photo of Oursinite associated with Sklodowskite	Mg(UO₂)₂(SiO₃OH)₂ · 6H₂O
1 photo of Oursinite associated with Rutherfordine	(UO₂)CO₃

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping Hide

9.AK.	Orlite	Pb₃(UO₂)₃(Si₂O₇)₂ · 6H₂O
9.AK.05	Soddyite	(UO₂)₂SiO₄ · 2H₂O	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Fddd
9.AK.10	Cuprosklodowskite	Cu(UO₂)₂(SiO₃OH)₂ · 6H₂O	Tric. 1 : P1
9.AK.10	Sklodowskite	Mg(UO₂)₂(SiO₃OH)₂ · 6H₂O	Mon. 2/m : B2/m
9.AK.15	Boltwoodite	(K,Na)(UO₂)(SiO₃OH) · 1.5H₂O	Mon. 2 : P2₁
9.AK.15	Kasolite	Pb(UO₂)(SiO₄) · H₂O	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/b
9.AK.15	Natroboltwoodite	Na(UO₂)(SiO₃OH) · H₂O	Orth. 2 2 2 : P2₁ 2₁ 2₁
9.AK.15	Parauranophane	Ca(UO₂)₂(SiO₃OH)₂ · 5H₂O	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/b
9.AK.15	Uranophane	Ca(UO₂)₂(SiO₃OH)₂ · 5H₂O	Mon. 2 : P2₁
9.AK.20	Swamboite-(Nd)	Nd_0.333[(UO₂)(SiO₃OH)](H₂O)_~2.5	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/b
9.AK.25	Haiweeite	Ca(UO₂)₂[Si₅O₁₂(OH)₂] · 6H₂O	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pbcn
9.AK.25	Metahaiweeite	Ca(UO₂)₂Si₆O₁₅ · nH₂O	Mon. 2/m : P2/b
9.AK.30	Weeksite	K₂(UO₂)₂(Si₅O₁₃) · 4H₂O	Mon. 2/m : B2/m
9.AK.30	Coutinhoite	Th_xBa_(1-2x)(UO₂)₂Si₅O₁₃ · (H₂O)_1+y (0 < x < 0.5 and 0 < y < (2+x))	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m)
9.AK.35	Magnioursilite	Mg₄(UO₂)₄(Si₂O₅)₅(OH)₆ · 20H₂O
9.AK.35	Calcioursilite	Ca₄(UO₂)₄(Si₂O₅)₅(OH)₆ · 15H₂O	Orth.
9.AK.40	Uranosilite	UO₃ · 7SiO₂	Orth.

Other InformationHide

Health Risks:

Radioactive

Internet Links for OursiniteHide

mindat.org URL:

https://www.mindat.org/min-3047.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

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External Links:

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Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project

References and PDF downloads at RRUFF project

American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database

Handbook of Mineralogy page PDF

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References for OursiniteHide

Reference List:

Dunn, Pete J., Chao, George Y., Grice, Joel D., Ferraiolo, James A., Fleischer, Michael, Pabst, Adolf, Zilczer, Janet A. (1984) New mineral names. American Mineralogist, 69 (5-6) 565-569 p.567

Burns, Peter C. (2005) U⁶⁺ minerals and inorganic compounds: insights into an expanded structural hierarchy of crystal structures. The Canadian Mineralogist, 43 (6) 1839-1894 doi:10.2113/gscanmin.43.6.1839

Kobatko, K.-A., Burns, P.C. (2006) A novel arrangement of silicate tetrahedra in the uranyl sheet of oursinite, (Co0.8Mg0.2)[(UO2)(SiO3OH)]2(H2O)6. American Mineralogist: 91: 333-336.

Plášil, J. (2018): Mineralogy, crystallography and structural complexity of natural uranyl silicates. Minerals, 8, 551. [with refinement of oursinite]

(2023) Oursinite. Handbook of Mineralogy. Mineralogical Society of America

Localities for OursiniteHide

This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the

symbol to view information about a locality. The

symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.

Locality ListHide

- This locality has map coordinates listed.

- This locality has estimated coordinates. ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence. ? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.

- Good crystals or important locality for species.

- World class for species or very significant. (TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species. (FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties). ~~Struck out~~ - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality. Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).

All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.


DR Congo (TL)
Haut-Katanga Kambove Territory Shinkolobwe ⓘ Shinkolobwe Mine (TL)	edit.africamuseum.be (n.d.) http://edit.africamuseum.be/geco_website/pdf/Shinkolobwe.pdf Deliens, Michel, Piret, Paul (1983) L'oursinite (Co0,86Mg0,10Ni0,04)O.2UO3. 2SiO2.6H2O, nouveau minéral de Shinkolobwe, Shaba, Zaïre. Bulletin de Minéralogie, 106 (3) 305-308 doi:10.3406/bulmi.1983.7710 Deliens, M. (1996) Overzicht van de mineralogie van de koper-, kobalt- en uraniumvoorkomens in Zuid-Shaba (Zaïre). Pages 35-49 in: Schatten der Aarde. Van mineraal tot juweel. Tentoonstelling in de abdij Saint-Gérard de Brogne van 27 april tot 27 oktober 1996. Catalogus opgemaakt onder de leiding van R. Warin, AGAB en P. Van hee, MKA (in Dutch).
Lualaba Mutshatsha Kolwezi ⓘ Musonoi Mine	*Wilson, Wendell E. (2018) The Musonoi mine, Kolwezi District, Lualaba Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Mineralogical Record, 49 (2) 236-304*

Oursinite

About OursiniteHide

Unique IdentifiersHide

IMA Classification of OursiniteHide

Classification of OursiniteHide

Mineral SymbolsHide

Physical Properties of OursiniteHide

Optical Data of OursiniteHide

Chemistry of OursiniteHide

Crystallography of OursiniteHide

Crystal StructureHide

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Geological EnvironmentHide

Type Occurrence of OursiniteHide

Synonyms of OursiniteHide

Other Language Names for OursiniteHide

Relationship of Oursinite to other SpeciesHide

Common AssociatesHide

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

Other InformationHide

Internet Links for OursiniteHide

References for OursiniteHide

Localities for OursiniteHide

Locality ListHide

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping Hide